reticulated earrings

Wednesday, April 24, 2013

Remember just a year
ago, I needed counseling to be in the same room with my torch? Now, just get
out of my way, I am hell-bent on melting stuffdown!That's because, in my hiatus from writing, I
took two very inspiring classes from two very inspiring women, Mary
Hettmansperger and Diane Falkenhaven.Both women have mastered alternative textures on metals and have
generously imparted their many years of practice and wisdom on the likes of
eager newbies like me.I'm anxious to
see how these new skills impregnate whatever is hatched next.

Birdy Frame necklace

One of the things I
learned was that you can do some very interesting things to copper with a
standing torch.

Gertie's necklacefront

& back

Reticulated & patina'd drops with Copper Rivets

That fueled my curiosity
of the reticulation process: a totally superficial delight given by repeatedly
almost melting and then quenching a piece of silver.I was born to do this!

Reticulated & patina'd drops

Assorted new work

On other fronts, I
fulfilled my very first wholesale order to Timothy’s
Gallery in Winter Park, Florida.It was
a BIG order for me and I wasn't sure I would be able to pull it off.But, in spite of myself, I did pull it off!(This might be a good segue into a story
about the REAL reason my business is called Maggie's MELTDOWN, but let's leave
that for another post.)

Finally,
stackers--lots of 'em!I found myself
with a new standing torch and a bunch of silver wire and no one around to say
ENOUGH ALREADY!So, have I got a deal
for you....

Gallery Door

Who, Me?

Still workin' on it...

I was born in Colorado, "grown" on a dairy farm in New York, and woke up one morning some years ago to find myself in Texas. You should see my boot collection! Having forsaken the Lone Star state most recently, I am calling the forested hills of Northeastern California home now.

Maggie's Meltdown is the metal work business I started after "retiring" from a full time job in pursuit of the mythical freedom of self-employment. Hopefully, this blog will offer a humorous chronicle on making that business fly, meltdowns and all!

My Etsy shop is up and running, behind the Etsy Door on the right. Pics of metal work are posted here as well, behind the Gallery Door. AND you can find me on Facebook. Yes!, click on the Facebook Door to link there. (I know, I know, I've thought of everything!) You can also click on the pictures of new work and go right to the Etsy shop! No kidding!

Thanks for checking in! Hope to see you soon (and make sure you're wearing a Maggie's original in case I do)!